What is a PFM crown and how is it built?
A PFM crown is a tooth-shaped cap made of porcelain fused to metal. The dental laboratory casts a thin metal shell that fits over the prepared tooth, then fires layers of porcelain onto the outside at high temperature, so the crown has the strength of a metal core and the colour and surface of a tooth. A thin opaque layer hides the metal, then body and enamel porcelains build the shade. The crown is cemented onto the reduced tooth and covers it completely above the gum.
PFM has been used since the 1950s and is one of the longest-established crown types in dentistry. This guide explains when a dentist proposes a crown at all, what a PFM crown involves, how it compares with zirconia and gold, what it costs in Turkey against the UK, US and Germany, how long it lasts, and what can go wrong. For related care, see our dental treatments in Turkey hub.
When do you need a PFM crown?
A crown is suggested when a tooth is too damaged for a filling or an onlay: a large cavity, a cracked or broken tooth, a tooth after root canal treatment, a worn tooth, or a tooth that must be reshaped to carry a bridge or a partial denture. It also covers a misshapen or discoloured tooth. The dentist chooses the material based on the tooth's position, the bite and the budget, and may propose PFM when a strong core is wanted at a lower price than layered zirconia, or when the crown will form part of a bridge, as in our guide to dental bridge installation.
PFM, zirconia or gold: which crown suits which tooth?
All three are in everyday use in Turkey. Monolithic zirconia is a solid ceramic with no metal; read about zirconia crowns. Gold alloy is gentle on opposing teeth and very durable; see gold crowns. A similar cermet design is described under cermet crowns.
| Crown type | Best suited to | Typical limits |
|---|---|---|
| PFM | Back teeth and bridges; patients who want a proven crown at moderate cost | Porcelain can chip; grey line at the gum edge may show; needs more tooth removal than gold |
| Zirconia | Back teeth under heavy bite; metal-free crowns | Can look opaque; harder to adjust; needs a precise laboratory |
| Gold alloy | Molars, grinders | Colour is obvious |
Does a PFM crown last, and how long can you expect?
Yes. Long-term studies of PFM crowns on natural teeth report that most remain in place for ten years or more, and many for fifteen to twenty. The typical reasons for failure are decay under the crown at the margin, fracture of the porcelain layer, loss of the cement bond and fracture of the underlying tooth. Grinding, a very deep bite, poor hygiene and a thin remaining tooth shorten the life. No clinic can honestly promise a set number of years; ask what the guarantee covers (for instance, remake after porcelain fracture) and for how long.
PFM crown cost in Turkey compared with the UK, US and Germany
The figures are approximate ranges per crown, not hospital quotes, and exclude implants and root treatment. Each hospital confirms its own price in a written quote.
| Country | Approximate cost per PFM crown |
|---|---|
| Turkey | €120 – €350 |
| United Kingdom | €500 – €1,100 |
| United States | €800 – €1,800 |
| Germany | €450 – €1,200 |
The price depends on the alloy (a noble alloy costs more than a base-metal one), the laboratory, the number of crowns, whether a post and core or root canal is needed first, and whether the crown is part of a bridge. A quote should say if the temporary crown, the X-rays and the anaesthetic are included and whether the price is per crown or per unit of a bridge.
How is a PFM crown fitted, step by step?
At the first visit the tooth is numbed and reshaped all round; the dentist removes about 1.2 to 2 mm of tooth from the biting surface and the sides so that metal and porcelain can fit without making the crown bulky. Decay is removed and, if the tooth is weak, a build-up is placed. An impression or digital scan records the shape, the shade is chosen and a temporary crown is fitted. The laboratory casts the metal and layers the porcelain, usually in five to seven working days. At the second visit the temporary is removed, the crown is tried in for fit, contact with neighbouring teeth, the bite and shade, and then cemented. Each visit takes 45 to 90 minutes.
How many days in Turkey, and what is recovery like?
For one to several crowns, most clinics plan five to seven days between the preparation and the fitting; larger cases, or those needing root canal treatment or gum surgery first, may need seven to ten days. There is no real recovery period. The numbness lasts a few hours, and the tooth can be sensitive to cold, heat or biting for several days. Avoid sticky or very hard food for the first day while the cement sets, brush as usual and clean between the teeth. Contact the dentist if the bite feels high, if pain increases or if the crown loosens. Our how it works page shows how a coordinator organises the visits.
Who is a good candidate for a PFM crown?
You are a good candidate if the tooth is restorable, with enough sound tooth above the gum to hold the crown, and if the gums and the neighbouring teeth are healthy. A tooth with deep decay that reaches the nerve will need root canal treatment first. Heavy grinders may be advised a night guard. If you know you react to nickel or other metals, say so: most crown alloys are nickel-free but the dentist should confirm the alloy. A back tooth with little thickness may suit another material, which the dentist should explain.
PFM crown before and after: what do the results look like?
A good PFM crown matches the shade, shape and size of its neighbours and sits flush with the gum so that the margin is smooth and clean. Over time, if the gum recedes, a thin dark line can appear at the neck of the crown where the metal collar shows, and for this reason PFM is less often chosen for front teeth where the gum line is visible. Photographs can show shade matching but not how well the margin fits, which determines how long the crown lasts. Ask the clinic to show crowns on teeth like yours.
Risks and complications of PFM crowns
The NHS lists the main problems of crowns: sensitivity, a bite that needs adjusting, a loose or lost crown, decay beneath the crown, gum inflammation and chipped or broken porcelain. Preparing the tooth removes enamel permanently, and a tooth with a crown can later need root canal treatment if the nerve becomes inflamed. Some people react to metals in the alloy, though true allergy is uncommon. A chipped porcelain layer can often be polished or repaired in the mouth, but a large fracture means a new crown. Regular check-ups and X-rays should follow, and ask where you would be treated at home if the crown fails.
How to choose a clinic and what to ask
Look for a dentist registered in Turkey who takes X-rays before quoting, explains why a crown is needed instead of a filling, names the material and the alloy and gives a written price per crown. Be cautious about clinics that recommend crowns on many healthy teeth, give no breakdown, or promise a lifetime guarantee. Useful questions:
- Is a crown really needed for this tooth, or would an onlay or filling do?
- Which alloy is under the porcelain, and is it nickel-free?
- How much of my tooth will be removed?
- Does the price include the temporary crown, any root canal and adjustment visits?
- What is covered if the porcelain chips, and for how long?
You can send photographs and X-rays through our free quote page to receive a written plan and price.
Hospitals with Dental Treatments in Turkey
Frequently asked questions
A PFM crown is a tooth cap made of porcelain fused to a metal shell. The metal gives strength and the porcelain gives the tooth colour. It is cemented over a reduced natural tooth and covers it fully above the gum.
Approximate costs are €120 to €350 per crown in Turkey, against roughly €500 to €1,100 in the UK. The alloy, laboratory and any root canal or build-up affect the price, so ask for a written quote per crown.
Most last ten years or more and many reach fifteen to twenty. Decay under the margin, porcelain fracture and grinding are the usual causes of failure, and no clinic can honestly promise a fixed number of years.
PFM has a metal core covered with porcelain, which can chip and may show a dark line at the gum. Zirconia is metal-free ceramic that looks more uniform but can be opaque and harder to adjust.
It can, especially if the gum recedes and exposes the metal edge. For front teeth many dentists prefer an all-ceramic crown to avoid this, while PFM is common on back teeth.
The tooth is numbed during preparation, so you should feel pressure but no pain. Afterwards sensitivity to cold or biting for a few days is common, and the temporary crown can feel rough.
Plan five to seven days between the preparation and fitting, as the laboratory needs time to make the crown. Cases with root canal treatment or gum surgery may need seven to ten days.
It can be used, but the metal can show at the gum line or make the crown look opaque. Dentists often choose layered ceramic for visible teeth and keep PFM for back teeth or bridges.
True allergy to dental alloys is uncommon, but some people react to nickel. Tell the dentist beforehand and ask which alloy will be used, as many crown alloys are nickel-free.
Risks include sensitivity, a high bite, chipped porcelain, a loose crown, decay beneath it and gum inflammation. The tooth may later need root canal treatment. Regular check-ups catch most problems early.